MANSA: Days after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in Mansa, Action Committee has called for a statewide ‘broom-burning’ protest on Sunday, accusing the AAP government of failing to curb drug abuse and protect those campaigning against it.Committee member Manik Goyal said the decision was taken at a meeting of the committee after a government-appointed panel held discussions with its members.The committee had demanded the dismissal of the station house officer (SHO), deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and drug inspector concerned. While official orders for the SHO and DSP’s dismissal had been issued, Goyal said the committee would continue its agitation.“We are organising a broom-burning protest across Punjab on Sunday because, under this (AAP) government’s nearly five years in power, drug addiction has only increased and the law and order situation has worsened. Gangsters are moving around fearlessly, and anti-drug activists are being shot dead,” he said.Goyal said the broom, the Aam Aadmi Party’s election symbol, would be burnt in every village between 12pm-7pm. He appealed to people to participate and make the protest a success.Jhota’s killing triggered demands for accountabilityJhota was shot dead on October 13 during a confrontation with chemist Ashwini Kumar at a medical store in Mansa. The activist had confronted the shop owner over the alleged sale of banned psychotropic substances and synthetic drugs.Police said Kumar opened fire inside the shop and followed Jhota into the street, where he was shot again. Jhota later died at Mansa Civil Hospital.The killing sparked protests and demands for an independent investigation. The CBI has since taken over the case and registered a fresh FIR.A special CBI court in Mohali on Friday remanded three accused, including Kumar, to five days of custody and another accused, Neelam Rani, to four days.(With PTI inputs)
